Job Title: Prospect Research Analyst
Department: University Relations
Location: Saskatoon
Employment Type: 2 year term, with possibility of extension or becoming permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary Family (if applicable): Specialist/Professional
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 2 ($66,030 - $103,174)
Posted Date: April 8 2024
Closing Date: April 29, 2024
Number of Openings: 1
Primary Purpose: To generate, manage and analyze strategic information within a comprehensive research program that supports the university’s objectives related to Alumni and External Relations, Development, and Strategic Communications. To act as a primary liaison for a portfolio of University Relations partners, ensuring delivery of research and consultation that meets their needs.
Nature of Work: The Prospect Research Analyst is a member of the Research and Pipeline team, and reports to the Manager, Research and Pipeline within the Operations and Services department and will be a member of various University Relations work groups and committees that deal with prospect, fundraising, engagement and information management strategies. The Analyst works collaboratively and in a consultative manner with a wide variety of stakeholders including staff across the University Relations team, (College or Centrally based) the President’s Office and other administration to support the university’s advancement objectives.
One of the analyst’s major roles is to assist in identifying opportunities for philanthropic support. The Analyst will verify, compile, analyze, and present data/research on gift prospects; produce in-depth individual, corporate, and foundation profiles and event briefing notes; acquire and analyze financial information; identify new potential philanthropy through proactive research; identify and maintain research resources; work closely with the records team to gather and update data, and provide coaching and support on aspects of the database system that relate directly to prospect information and updates.
The environment is complex and fast-paced with numerous competing deadlines. The consequences of error or sub-standard work are significant as they have the potential to negatively the philanthropic support or reputation of the university.
University Relations is responsible for institutional advancement programs (alumni and external relations, development, strategic communications), and as such is dedicated to supporting the related needs of all colleges, units and the university as a whole. University Relations is comprised of specialized teams that work together in an integrated model to ensure that the University of Saskatchewan has the reputation, relationships and resources necessary to take its place among the most distinguished universities in Canada and the world.
The University of Saskatchewan values diversity and Indigenous engagement is a strategic priority. In support of this priority, the position will contribute to a team environment which recognizes and supports the importance and value of equity, diversity, and inclusion in achieving the mission of the university, and actively seek out those with diverse cultural backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to support the mission.
In University Relations, the nature of our work centres on our guiding principles of being:
- Inspiring: We are confident in ourselves and our goals. We instill confidence and excitement in others to bring them along with us.
- Committed to each other’s success: We look for opportunities to make all our teams and the University successful.
- Collaborative and integrated: We work together toward shared goals.
- Solutions- and action-oriented: We continuously seek a path forward and we get things done.
- Brave and courageous: We expect to encounter obstacles. We face these challenges head-on.
- Respectful: We demonstrate our regard for others through listening, understanding, and acknowledging the contributions of all.
- Typical Duties or Accountabilities:
- Participate in career engagement planning including developing goals and objectives, detailed research strategies and timelines and meeting agreed metrics.
- Systematically identify prospective major gift donors:
- Utilize tools and techniques such as data-mining and publication review.
- Provide feedback and potential opportunities to identify other major gift sources based on trends and economic climate.
- Develop and execute strategies to ensure that newly identified prospects are presented and assigned to appropriate campus relationship managers in a timely manner.
- Develop, maintain, and update information on new and existing major gift prospective donors, alumni, volunteers and friends:
- Efficiently monitor a core group of key stakeholders, maintain an active awareness of the important industry, business and financial news. Communicate relevant information to key parties in a manner that guides decision-making.
- Using a variety of electronic and print resources, verify and synthesize information on prospects to produce clear profiles of their background, career, financial capacity, philanthropic interests, and nature of their relationship with the university. Determine the focus and depth of research needed to complete an accurate and useful profile document.
- Acquire and analyze financial indicators of wealth to assess philanthropic capacity and analyze geographic and industrial constituencies to identify, rate, screen and track prospective donors.
- Ensure that legislated and university fundraising and confidentiality guidelines are communicated and adhered to with regards to information stored in the database and paper files.
- Upload the highest ethical standards relating to collection of data and protection of privacy.
- Support data integrity by updating data within system.
- Act as a liaison to a portfolio of partners including relationship managers and other unit leaders:
- Meet regularly on projects and research needs.
- Review all contact reports and correspondence and debrief with the development officers for information updates and prospect identification leads.
- Collaborate and consult on matters related to relationship manager portfolio as well as qualification, cultivation and solicitation strategy formulation.
- Provide consultative services and orientation sessions on research methodologies and resources to UR partners.
- Ensure principles of relationship management framework are adhered to and provide feedback to Managers where necessary.
- Support trip, visit and event preparation related to prospective donors and other key stakeholders:
- Collaborate with relationship managers to proactively suggest/recommend visits with potential major donors.
- Prepare necessary documentation for visits.
- Consult with senior administration, college and University Relations staff on guest lists for upcoming events. Coordinate briefing notes, executive notes, and profiles as required.
- Conduct reputational analysis to help protect the image and reputation of the University.
- Coordinate and conduct pro-active prospect research and/or media monitoring activities and analyze data to support UR programs and initiatives:
- Researching key alumni, identifying event participants, prospects for awards or honorary degrees and identify potential noteworthy individuals for further engagement.
- Collect and analyze data on target markets, environment, or competition to provide a better understanding of these groups.
- Collaborate and provide expertise to UR partners on policies and procedures to support and enable effective use of the alumni and donor database:
- Support prospect and donor management for the university by contributing to creation and implementation of prospect management process and policy.
- Coach UR partners on the use of modules and reports within the alumni and donor database that relate to prospect information and management.
- Contribute to creation, implementation, and monitoring of procedures for data entry and maintenance related to prospect information and updates, as well as market research and analytics.
Education: A relevant undergraduate degree with a research emphasis (preferably Social Sciences, Business or Library Science) and/or appropriate training and experience in a related field. A graduate degree would be a definite asset.
Experience: Three or more years’ experience in market research, preferably prospect research. Experience in data collection and analysis is required. A thorough familiarity with internet search engines as a research tool and extensive experience with computers, and electronic databases. A high proficiency in Word, Excel, and statistical software is necessary. Campaign and/or fundraising experience is highly desirable. Membership in the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA) would be considered an asset. Understanding of privacy legislation is also an asset.
Skills:
- Intellectual curiosity and an inquisitive nature
- Demonstrated integrity and ability to handle highly confidential information
- Detail oriented with excellent analytical skills
- Good organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage and prioritize several projects simultaneously
- Proven ability to take initiative, meet deadlines and willingness to take on challenges
- Strong interpersonal, communication (both written and verbal), public speaking, presentation and negotiating skills with an exceptional customer service orientation
- The ability to lead through influence rather than direction
- The ability to work well independently and collaboratively within a team environment
- A good understanding of financial principles
- Knowledge of the Canadian and regional business scene
- The ability to understand information systems as well as learn and use software programs
- A commitment to professional ethics
Initiative – This position requires the incumbent to act in a proactive manner, identifying new prospects and relationships and to notify the appropriate development officers. Be willing and open to change and adaptive to evolving processes and systems.
Problem Solving – The complexity of the position in terms of multiple projects, many contacts, the interpersonal nature of the work, and the potential for ethical challenges requires the incumbent to solve problems regularly that are complex in nature. Many situations will require an immediate decision; others will allow for discussion to determine the appropriate measures. Excellent judgement is required to carry out this role.
Leadership Expectations – This position requires demonstrated leadership in providing expert guidance and advice to senior leadership, UR partners, faculty members, and volunteers, on prospective donors, volunteers and alumni. The incumbent is responsible for meeting exceeding stakeholder expectations/objectives and requirements for UR projects.
Inquiries regarding this position can be directed to Dean Hall at 306-966-1926.